[543] June 6. Left Argeles (after a night sleepless from fatigue) in a private carriage for Bagneres de Bigorre; then took another carriage for St. Gaudens, where I arrived about nine o'clock in the evening. June 7. In the diligence, hot and dusty, over the plains of Languedoc to Toulouse, which interested me much. June 8. Early in the morning took the train eastward; passed the day at Carcassonne, in order to explore its well-preserved and venerable ruins, reviving the Middle Ages; in the evening went on, passing ancient Narbonne and Beziers to Cette, where I arrived at midnight. June 9. Early again reached Montpellier at seven o'clock; rambled through its streets, visited its museum, and took the train for Lyons, passing Nimes, Avignon, and many other interesting places, but felt obliged to hurry. I had already seen Nimes and Avignon.1 June 10. Early this morning by train to Dijon, where I stopped to visit this old town, particularly to see its churches, and the tombs of the dukes of Burgundy; in the evening went on to Fontainebleau; was detained some hours on the road by an accident to the engine. June 11. Early this morning drove in the fanous forest of Fontainebleau; then went through the palace; then to Paris, reaching my old quarters, Rue de la Paix, at five o'clock; in the evening went to Ambigu Comique to see “Le Naufrage de la Meduse.” June 16. Left Paris in train for Boulogne; while train stopped at Amiens for refreshments ran to see the famous cathedral; crossing from Boulogne to Folkestone was quite sea-sick; met aboard Miss Hosmer the sculptor, Gibson, Macdonald, and other artists from Rome; reached London between nine and ten o'clock in the evening. June 17. Looked about for permanent lodgings; took rooms at No. 1 Regent Street [Maurigy's]; saw my old friend J. Parkes, and dined with him in Saville Row. June 18. Left a few cards on old friends; saw the queen in her carriage coming from the levee; went to the opera, “Don Giovanni;” afterwards to Monckton Milnes, who seemed much altered since I knew him. June 19. Down into the city; dined at Dolby's; in the evening went to Albert Smith's “Mont Blanc. ” June 20. Passed some time with Lord Brougham,—very kind, but old; drove with the Mackintoshes in Hyde Park; dined at Russell Sturgis's. June 21. Church in the Abbey; found myself seated at the foot of the tomb of Fowell Buxton; dined with Mackintosh. Afterwards to Metropolitan Club, where I met Layard, Milnes, etc. June 22. Breakfast with Senior, where I met Lord Glenelg, Hatherton, Ebrington,2 also Milnes and M. de Lesseps and M. Merimee.3 Visited Sheepshank's pictures; called on Lady Wharncliffe; went to House of Commons, also Lords, where I spoke with many friends, old and new; heard the Lord Chancellor, my old friend Lord Cranworth, open the subject of the consolidation of the statutes; dined with the Lord Chancellor, where was the granddaughter of Lord Byron.
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1 In 1839, when en route for Italy.
2 1818—. The third Earl Fortescue.
3 Prosper Merimee (1803-1870), novelist and historian.
Cambridge, MA. Press of John Wilson and Son. 1877.
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