24 



THUNDER STORM 



set all the world in a ferment, I venture a 

 small attempt at pleasantry, and say, that I 

 never pass this tree and millstone without 

 thinking of poor old Mr. Bull, with a weight 

 of eight hundred millions of pounds round his 

 galled neck; — fruitful source of speculation 

 to a Machiavel, but of sorrow to a Washington. 



THUNDER STORM AT WALTON HALL. 



On the 10th of August, 1842, during a terrible 

 storm of thunder and lightning, the poplar tree 

 depicted in the engraving prefixed to the first 

 series of these Essays was struck and sadly rent. 

 I had passed the day at Leeds with our cele- 

 brated Doctor Hobson. Having had an early 

 dinner I felt a great inclination to get home, 

 and repeatedly requested that the carriage might 

 be brought to the door. To this the doctor 

 obstinately objected, but, finding me unceasing 

 in my entreaties, he at last consented, and off we 

 drove. You must know that every body, rich 



