George Ticknor, Life, letters and journals of George Ticknor
George Hillard, Ed.

[371] Lansdowne's to a great concert. . . . . I could not stop in the concert-room, it was like a steam-bath; but the Queen of Holland was there, sundry other high-mightinesses, and abundance of ladies and old gentlemen, like Lord Glenelg, Lord Monteagle, Lord Lyndhurst, and not a few more, who seemed to thrive in it like hot-house plants. Many others—of whom I was one—stayed in the outer rooms, where were the charming Lady Shelburne, Sir Edmund Head, Sir Henry Holland, and a plenty more people whom it was agreeable to talk to. . . . .

July 17.—When I despatched my letters to you this morning, giving an account of my travel's history down to that moment, I was beginning a regular London day, which I have now just finished at one A. M., without so much fatigue as to prevent me from writing you at least a page. I always do before I go to bed, as I do not think I could go quietly to sleep else, or have a good night. I began at the British Museum three or four hours work, and very interesting work, too, from which I came home with a good many notes, and very dirty hands, from turning over curious old Spanish books. When I had washed and put myself in order I went to Lady Chatterton's, a lady who has written a book about the South of France, and collects a certain portion of fashionable and literary society at her house to hear music and eat ices, drink tea, and talk, from four to six or seven. . . . . Harness was there, Harriet Hosmer, Sir Gardiner Wilkinson, ‘Faust’ Hayward, Barlow, Lady Becher, etc. But I went late and came away early. . . . .

My dinner was at Lord Wensleydale's, where we had Murchison, Lord Caernarvon, the Bishop of London,—very agreeable,—the Laboucheres, Edward Ellice, Lord Brougham, Lady Ebrington, etc. I talked before dinner with Lord Brougham, who seems to grow old as fast as anybody I meet, and who is said to have shown symptoms of age in a speech to-day. . . . .

It was so pleasant that I forgot myself and stayed too late, so that I did not arrive at Senior's, to a musical party, till considerably after eleven o'clock. There I talked a long time with Lord Hatherton, who has just had a day or two from Tocqueville, and who—as well as Lady Hatherton—seemed to share the general admiration he has inspired during his visit here. . . . .

July 18.—Milnes called for me in his open carriage at ten, and we drove through the beautiful country—which is found on almost all sides of London—to Twickenham, for a breakfast at the Duc d'aumale's. His place is called Orleans House, and is one of those rich old places that abound in England. It was once occupied by his