THE EUROPEAN JOURNALS 261 



in it after all. It resembles an old church, the whole front 

 being of long, narrow windows. The inside is composed of 

 large rooms, highly decorated with ancient pictures of the 

 F family. The gardens are also of ancient appear- 

 ance ; there were many box-trees cut in the shape of hats, 

 men, birds, etc. I was assured the number had not been 

 received, so I suppose it never was sent. On our return 

 Mr. Barclay showed me an asylum built by Quakers for 

 the benefit of lunatics, and so contrived with gardens, 

 pleasure-grounds, and such other modes of recreation, that 

 in consequence of these pleasant means of occupying 

 themselves many had recovered. 



October 9. How often I thought during these visits of 

 poor Alexander Wilson. When traveUing as I am now, to 

 procure subscribers, he as well as myself was received with 

 rude coldness, and sometimes with that arrogance which 

 belongs to parvenus. 



October 11. It has been pouring down rain during all 

 last night and this day, and looks as if it would not cease 

 for some time ; it is, however, not such distressing falls of 

 water as we have in Louisiana ; it carries not every object 

 off with the storm ; the banks of the rivers do not fall in 

 with a crash, with hundreds of acres of forest along with 

 them ; no houses are seen floating on the streams with 

 cattle, game, and the productions of the husbandman. No, 

 it rains as if Nature was in a state of despondency, and I 

 am myself very dull ; I have been reading Stanley's Tales. 



October 12. This morning I walked along the Ouse ; 

 the water had risen several feet and was quite muddy. I 

 had the pleasure of seeing a little green Kingfisher perched 

 close to me for a few minutes ; but the instant his quick 

 eye espied me, he dashed off with a shrill squeak, almost 

 . touching the water. I must say I longed for a gun to have 

 stopped him, as I never saw one fresh killed. I saw 

 several men fishing with a large scoop-net, fixed to a long 

 pole. The fisherman laid the net gently on the water, and 



