THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 255 



and cypresses from America. Many birds were here, 

 some searching for food, while others gave vent to their 

 happy feelings in harmonious concerts. The house itself 

 was covered with vines, the front a mass of blooming roses 

 exuberant with perfume. What a delightful feast I had in 

 this peaceful spot ! At dinner there were several other 

 guests, among them the widow of Sir Thomas Stanford 

 Raffles, governor of Java, a most superior woman, and 

 her conversation with Dr. Horsfield was deeply interesting. 

 The doctor is a great zoologist, and has published a fine 

 work on the birds of Java. It was a true family dinner, 

 and therefore I enjoyed it; Sir Robert is at the head of 

 the business of the Carnatic association of India. 



Friday, June 2. At half-past seven I reached Sir 

 Thomas Lawrence, and found him writing letters. He 

 received me kindly, and at once examined some of my 

 drawings, repeating frequently, " Very clever, indeed ! " 

 From such a man these words mean much. During break- 

 fast, which was simple enough and sans cirimonie, he 

 asked me many questions about America and about my 

 work. After leaving him I met Mr. Vigors 1 by appoint- 

 ment, who said everything possible to encourage me, and 

 told me I would be elected as a foreign member to the 

 Athenaeum. Young Kidd called to see me, and I asked 

 him to come and paint in my room ; his youth, simplicity, 

 and cleverness have attached me to him very much. 



June 18. Is it not strange I should suffer whole weeks 

 to pass without writing down what happens to me ? But I 

 have felt too dull, and too harassed. On Thursday 

 morning I received a long letter from Mr. Liz ars, informing 

 me that his colorers had str uck work, a nd everything was 

 at a stand-still ; he requested me to try to find some persons 

 here who would engage in that portion of the business, 

 and he would do his best to bring all right again. This 



1 Nicholas Aylward Vigors, 1787-1840, naturalist, First Secretary of the 

 Zoological Society of London. 



