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

[146] whom I found a little precise in his manners, but more of a scholar in modern elegant literature than Englishmen of his class commonly are, and a very well-bred gentleman. His sister was there too, and so was a Miss Barrett, who has distinguished herself by a good poetical translation of the ‘Prometheus Vinctus’ of Aeschylus.¹ The dinner was very agreeable; indeed, Kenyon always makes his house so, from his own qualities. . . . .

March 27.—A very busy day. As soon as breakfast was over we had a long visit from the delightful old Professor Smyth, which was followed by visits from H. C. Robinson and two or three other persons. These were not fairly over before Kenyon came to take us to the club houses, the Athenaeum, the University, the Travellers', and the United Service of the Army and Navy. These are the four most splendid of these recent inventions, growing out of the increasing luxury and selfishness of the present state of society in London. I do not know that anything can be more complete. The Athenaeum is the most literary, and there we found Hallam, reading in its very good library, which owes much to his care . . . .

It was beautiful weather, and we took a drive in Hyde Park, where we met the Queen on horseback. . . . .She looked gay, but has grown quite stout since I saw her at York.

After a walk in Kensington Gardens, which was quite delightful in this warm spring day, . . . . I made a most agreeable visit to Sydney Smith, who now finds himself so well off,—thanks to the Whigs whom he is abusing in his pamphlets,—that he has rented a small house in town, where he spends a few months while he takes his turn as Canon of St. Paul's. He was very kind and very droll to-day. . . . .

March 28.—Another long, laborious London day. The morning was given to business, visiting, and receiving visits. Sydney Smith returned my yesterday's call, and talked for an hour in the most amusing manner, at the end of which he said, taking up his hat, ‘And now I'll go and pray for you’; for he was going to some service at St. Paul's.

We dined with the——s, . . . . but we did not stay late, for we were engaged at Lansdowne House, where we found a very select party, made in honor of the Duchess of Gloucester, daughter of George III. . . . . All the Ministry were there, . . . . the Duke of Cambridge, the foreign ministers, Lord Jeffrey,—just come to town,—Lord and Lady Holland, the last of whom is rarely seen anywhere, except at home, etc . . . . Lord Durham is a little, dark-complexioned, redfaced-looking