160 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 
for a few hours. He gave me also some autographs 
of celebrated botanists, and a few old botanical 
books. ... 
Friday evening, March 29. ... The Garden of 
Plants was nearly on my way home ; so I stopped there, 
worked for an hour (till five o'clock), went home 
(home, indeed !), took my dinner, found myself most 
thoroughly tired as well as hungry, having had no 
breakfast but a small roll of bread I obtained near 
the cemetery; had a fire kindled in my room, and 
commenced writing to you. Just now the little daugh- 
ter of the concierge, a little girl of six or seven, who 
often waits upon me, has brought me a cup of coffee, 
which I have enjoyed greatly, and now feel much re- 
stored. French children are all pretty and graceful, 
and I am making the little girl’s acquaintance as fast 
as I can; for it is difficult for me to understand her 
(it seems odd to hear such a little thing speak 
French), and in answer to some of my attempts to 
speak French to her, she answers, “ Je n’entends pas 
anglais, monsieur.’ 
What great lies the French newspapers tell! Yes- 
terday morning the paper I was reading at my break- 
fast stated that one of the gardeners who had charge 
of the bears at the Jardin des Plantes descended into 
the inclosure for some purpose, and was seized by the 
bears, killed immediately, and almost eaten up before 
help was obtained. So when I arrived at the garden 
I of course spoke to Decaisne about it, who was 
greatly surprised, for it seems the story was entirely 
a fabrication. 
I see I have at length filled this large sheet, so I 
must say adieu for the present, but hope to-morrow 
evening to begin another. Ever I remain, 
Your attached, 
