404 JOURNAL OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
in Wales, the property of Mr. Mark Grigg, at Tamerton; also a 
fine drawing of Ivybridge, taken from the bed of the river, the 
property of Mr. Prance, of Hampstead ; and a drawing of the East 
Lyn, taken from the grounds of the late Sir William Herries, 
the banker, the property of Mr. Liscombe, of Mannamead. . 
Another of the sketching tours deserving of mention was the 
year we went together to Lynton and Lynmouth. The party 
consisted of Cook, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Talfourd, Mr. Bell, and 
myself. We first took up our abode at the lower town; but soon 
found it best to be nearer our subjects on the road to the Water's 
Meet. Here Cook made a series of fine sketches, sometimes sitting 
in the bed of the river, either looking up or down the Lyn, and 
occasionally on higher ground, with the Countesbury Crag in the 
distance, and now and then in the picturesque grounds of Sir 
William Herries. Our party was joined by the late David 
McKewan, a member of the Institute, and by another artist of 
the name of Dearle. Such a strong party in so small a place soon 
became known, and we accepted the invitation of Sir William 
Herries, and spent a most delightful evening at his charming house 
on the East Lyn, where we were much gratified by the inspection 
of some folios of rare drawings by many of the leading artists. 
We left this hospitable house rather late, and in the highest 
spirits. It was perfectly dark, and knowing nothing of our way 
out of the grounds, we borrowed a lanthorn, which one of us 
professed to carry as a guide to the rest; but in the rollicking 
spirit of fun and practical joking which pervaded the party gener- 
ally, the custodian of the lanthorn, whose name I prefer not to 
mention, leapt over the flower-beds, ran in dangerous proximity 
towards the brawling Lyn, and otherwise conducted himself so 
much like a will-o’-the-wisp, that poor Cook with his long legs 
was soon sprawling amongst the rose-bushes, and he and the whole 
party, convulsed with laughter, awoke the stillness of that dark 
summer’s night in a way not easily forgotten. This frolic is men- 
tioned to show that with all dear old Cook’s refinement and poetic 
nature he dearly loved fun. He roared over his escapade like a 
schoolboy, as indeed we all did. 
But this frolic was soon to be followed by what might have been 
a very serious affair for some of us, and for Mr. Mitchell especially. 
We were contemplating a sketch from the main road to the Water's 
Meet through the wood. We had all been looking at the subject ; 
