KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



15 



water, which he was now handing with strong- 

 recommendations to the lady. Fearful of 

 wounding his feelings by a continued refusal, 

 the stranger put it to her lips, and then re- 

 turned it, with gentle thanks ; the tar lifted 

 his hand to his hat, and tossed off the re- 

 mainder with that facility which is the result 

 of practice. 



By five in the morning, the suburbs of 

 London came in prospect ; there was a mist, 

 however, rolling about in the air, in wavy 

 phantoms, that for awhile curtailed the view , 

 at last, the sun's prevailing rays melted it all 

 away ; and then innumerable houses, and 

 towers, and walls, and waving flags, rose on 

 the eye, all brightening into bold effect be- 

 neath the influence of the sunshine. At this 

 moment, a detachment of the horse-guards 

 rode by on their majestic steeds, and in their 

 commanding regimentals. It was the first 

 time I had seen this regiment, and therefore, 

 the impression they made was the more for- 

 cible. I could almost have imagined them, as 

 they approached with that dignity insepar- 

 able from gigantic form and graceful posture, 

 an array of monumental statues, that had left 

 their pedestals, and started into life ! 



I was now informed that we were in "Lon- 

 don !" What a thrill that word shot through 

 every part of my body ! — Here then was the 

 " city of the soul," — the cynosure of all my 

 boyish hopes — the wondrous place, where I 

 had so often travelled in my dreams of en- 

 thusiasm. This was the ground hallowed by 

 genius ! — the nursing mother of the mighty ! 

 Yes ! — thought I (oblivious for a moment of 

 the stern realities of my lot) — and I will make 

 my name to be heard amongst its countless 

 multitudes — I — but there these Alnaschar- 

 like aspirations were checked, by an uncere- 

 monious jerk from the coach, that had now 

 arrived at its destination. 



What a singular influence the situation of 

 the person has on the feelings ! I had no 

 sooner deposited myself on the ground, than 

 all lofty aspiration evaporated, and left me 

 perfectly awake to my present condition. 

 Oh ! the blank, cold misery of arriving in 

 town, unknown and ungreeted, while all 

 around is an atmosphere of bustle and joy ! 



There is an undefinable sensitiveness about 

 us, for the first few moments after our arrival 

 in a strange town. The merry countenances, 

 and the unrestrained stir of business and 

 pleasure on all sides, appear a heartless 

 mockery of our own dismal and dreamy as- 

 pect. For five minutes, I stood half bewil- 

 dered amid the indefinite concourse that sur- 

 rounded the hotel at Piccadilly. Here was 

 a monotonous-looking farmer, moving about 

 like a living rick from his own yard — and 

 there, was a peevish old gentleman, poking 

 his way through the crowd with a family 

 walking-stick, while behind him some despe- 



rate urchin was bobbing between the passen- 

 gers' legs, and laughing at his own dexterity 

 A violent push from the pointed corner of a 

 portmanteau soon roused me from my torpor, 

 while at the same time a brawny porter thrust 

 his round head into my face, and roared out 

 — u Which is your luggage, Sir ?" Profiting 

 by this ingenuous memento, I deposited my 

 trunk and " self" in a cab, and proceeded in 

 search of lodgings. 



Of my further adventures, more anon. 



PEIZE RABBITS. 



The Fancy Babbit Show. 



The " Metropolitan Fancy Rabbit Club" 

 have just held their twentieth session, at 

 Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street; and we never 

 recollect seeing the room more numerously 

 filled, nor finer specimens of rabbits ex- 

 hibited for the decision of the Judges. 



Dr. Handey was, as usual, in the chair, 

 and presided as he always does over the 

 meeting, with much good humor, and a 

 thorough zest for the " fancy" in which he 

 so much delights. He was ably supported 

 by Mr. Wynne, in the vice-chair. 



The Chairman, after dwelling a little on 

 the utility of the society, and eulogising the 

 harmony that prevailed among the members 

 of this club in particular, called on the busi- 

 ness of the evening. 



On the prize animals being brought for- 

 ward, one by one, for exhibition, the admi- 

 ration expressed was most lively. They 

 were certainly beautiful creatures. In our 

 days of boyhood we used to think certain 

 of the breed then very handsome ; but the 

 perfection to which they are now brought, 

 exceeds the power of description. 



The number of prizes awarded was ten. 

 These were granted fur "length of ears;" 

 the best black and white ; best yellow and 

 white ; best tortoise-shell ; best blue and 

 white ; best grey and white ; also for self- 

 colurs, and for weight. 



Mr. Herring, the animal painter, carried 

 off the first prize, for his tortoise-shell buck. 

 Although only four months and fifteen days 

 old, its ears measured 20| inches in length, 

 by 4f inches in breadth. The other suc- 

 cessful aspirants were Messrs. Bancks, 

 Littleton, Arnold, Cavendish, Bird, and 

 Locke. To some of these were awarded 

 double prizes. W T e may also mention that, 

 in several instances, two animals were so 

 closely alike, that both their owners had 

 prizes given them. 



We should indeed be wanting in observa- 

 tion, did we . neglect to particularise the 

 buck shown in the course of the evening by 

 its owner, Mr. Arnold. It was a lovely 

 fawn-color, and its ears measured 20 inches 



