L^M'iJ^ "THE TAUCHNITZ COLLECTION" is allowed to circulate among the University officers, professors, and students, only on condition that the Librarian shall permanently withdraw from circulation any volume which is out of print, and that all volumes lost or unfit for use shall be promptly replaced by the Librarian at the University's expense. AA^nsL^n^ '^VwVv^vc^'^ Words wor(4v vJ EACH VOLUME SOLD SEPARATELY. COLLECTION OF BRITISH AUTHORS TAUCimiTZ EDITION. VOL. 2067. MEMORIES OF OLD FRIENDS FROM THE JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. EDITED BY HORACE N. PYM. IN TWO VOLUMES. — VOL. I . LEIPZIG: BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ. PARIS: LIBRAIRIE C. REINWALD, I 5, RUE DES SAINTS-PERES. PARIS: THE GALIGNANI LIBR.\RY , 224, RUE DE RIVOLI, AND AT NICE, 48, QUAI ST. JEAN BAPTISTE. This Collection is pttblished with copyright for Continental circtclation, bttt all purchasers are earnestly requested not to introduce tlie volumes into England or into any British Colony. Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924104095876 COLLECTION OF BRITISH AUTHORS TAUCHNITZ EDITION. VOL. 2067. ]\IEMOPtIES OF OLD FRIENDS FROM THE JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX EDITED BY HORACE N. PYM. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. L "1 warmed both hands before the fire of life; It smks, and I am ready to depart." W. S. Landor. MEMORIES OF OLD FRIENDS BEING EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS AND LETTERS OF CAROLINE FOX OF TENJERRICK, CORNWALL 5rom \855 to \87\ EDITED BY HORACE N. PYM To WHICH ARE ADDED FOURTEEN ORIGINAL LETTERS FROM J. S. MiLl NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED. COPYRIGHT EDITION. I IN TWO VOLUMES. -VOL. I. LEIPZIG BERN HARD TAUCHNITZ 1882. The Right oj Translatioti is reserved. T "uv TO ANNA MARIA FOX THESE RECORDS OF HER SISTER'S LIFE ARE MOST AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE EDITOR. Harlev Street, iSSi. CONTENTS OF VOLUME 1. CHAPTER I. 1835- Meets Davies Gilbert. — Dr. Joseph Wolff. — His Account of Lady Hester Stanhope. — Of Drummond of Albury. — Visit toDerwent Coleridge ........... CHAPTER II. 1836. ■ Falmouth. — Meets Be la Beche. — His geological Maps. — Bristol British Association Meeting. — Tom Moore. — Dr. Buckland. — Wheatstone. — John Martin. — Professor Sedgwick. — Carclew. — Visit from Lady George Murray. — Anecdotes of Royal Family. — Admiral Fitz-Roy. — Lady Byron and her Daughter. — Sir Ed- ward Belcher. — Begum of Oude. — Her Conversation. — Murray. — George Combe. — Cowley Powles. — Molve Mohammed. — De la Beche's Anecdotes ......... CHAPTER III. 1837- Sir Richard Vyvyan. — De la Beche and the West Indies. — George Wightwick. — Snow Harris. — Lord Cole. — Visit to Grasmere. — Hartley Coleridge. — Wordsworth. — Poem by Hartley Coleridge. Liverpool. — Sir David Brewster. — Dr. Whewell. — Sharon Tur- ner. — Captain Ross. — British Association Meeting. — Dr. Lard- ner. — Phrenology. — Professor Airy. — W. E. Forster. — Davies Gilbert. — Anecdotes of the Royal Society. — Charles Fox. — Henry Mackenzie ......... CHAPTER IV. 183S. Paris. — Becquerel. — Arago. — Dr. Dalton. — Odilon Barrot. — Anti- Slavery Meetingin London. — Lord Brougham's Speech. — Stormy Discussion. — Daniel O'Cnnnell. — Visit to Deville. — Royal So- ciety's Rooms. — Call at King's College. — Sir Charles Lyell. — Lister. — Sir Fowell Buxton. — Queen's Coronation. — View from Athenaeum Club. — Dr. Channing. — vS. T. Coleridge and the Gil- mans. — Sir John Bowring. — Edham Bey. — Edward Lane. — On Shelley and Byron. — Mezzofanti ...... Page CONTENTS OF VOLUME 1. CHAPTER V. 1839. Page Professor Sedgwick. — Washington Irving. — Newstead Abbey. — Sopwith. — Chartists. — Hope. — Charles Mathews the Elder. — Anecdotes. — Curran. — Bishop Philpotts. — Sir John Soane. — Trebah. — Irvingism. — Bishop of Norwich. — Dr. Buckland's Lec- ture. — Hutton. — LordThurlow. — Day and Martin. — Fauntleroy. — Charles Lamb. — Malibran. — Sir JohnBowring electioneering. —Pope Pius VII.— Mahomet Ali 83 CHAPTER VI. 1840. Robert Owen. — Nadir Shah. — John Moultrie.— Hartley Coleridge's Poetry. — Southey. — Meets John Sterling. — Henry Mill and his Family at Falmouth. — Sterling's Conversations. — Dr. Calvert. — Julius Hare. — Sir Boyle Roche. — Lord Maraulay. — Penjerrick. — S.T. Coleridge. — Bentham. — W. S. Landor. — John Stuart Mill arrives at Falmouth. — His Opinions and Conversations. — Count D'Orsay. — Thomas Carlyle and Edward Irving. — Death of Henry Mill. — Cunningham. — Ashantee Princes. — Letter from J. S. Mill to R. Barclay Fox. — Carlyle. — His Lectures onHero- Worship. — Prince Consort at Exeter Hall. — Speeches. — Count and Countess Beust ......... 102 CHAPTER VII. 184I, Dr. Calvert returns to Falmouth. — His Conversations.— Sterling. — His Table-talk. — He settles in Falmouth. — Visit from John M. Lawrence. — Dr. Calvert's increased Illness. — Joseph Bonaparte at Falmouth. — Emerson. — Wordsworth's Opinions. — Story of Webster. — British Association Meeting at Plymouth. — Sir Henry de la Beche. — Professor Lloyd. — Sir John Franklin. — Visit from Colonel Sabine. — Conybeare. — Professor Owen at Falmouth. — His Conversation. — Anecdote of Lady Holland. — Lecture by Dr. Lloyd. — Story of Lord Enniskillen. — Dr. Calvert dangerously ill 198 CHAPTER VIII. Meets J. A Froude — Death of Dr Calvert. — Sterling's Epitaph upon him. — Sterling's Conversations. — Letter from ]\Irs. Fry. — News from Mill. — Story of Lady Holland. - Meets Professor Owen in London. — An Afternoon with theCarlyles. — Conversa- tion of Carlyle. — Rev. Derwent Coleridge in Chelsea. — Sees F. D. Maurice. — Dinner at the Mills'. — Attempt on the Queen's Life. — AmeliaOpie.-Mects Wordsworth. — His Opinioios.— Visits Coldbath Fields Prison with Elizabeth Fry. — Sterling returns from Italy. — A Morning with Westmacott. — Anecdote of Lady Byron. — Anti-Slavery Meeting. — Visits Hanwell with Samuel Gurney. — Meets Mrs. Schimmelpenninck. — Her Conversation. — Letter from Carlyle to Sterling. — Carlyle's Opinion of Professor Owen. — Stovy of Edward Irving and Carlyle. — Herman Meri- vale. — W. E. Forster at Falmouth. — Carlyle on the Miner Ver- ran. — I^etter from Carlyle ........ 246 MEMOIR, "Speak of me as I am, nothing extenuate, Nor set clown aught in malice." — Shakespeare. The Journals and Letters from which the follow- ing Extracts have been chosen were written by Caroline Fox, of Penjerrick, between the years 1835 and 187 1. They speak so clearly for themselves that but few words of introduction or explanation are needed. The Editor's task has been rendered a pleasant one by the help and sympathy of those members of Caroline Fox's family who survive her and keep her memory green. Inasmuch as this book will probably reach the hands of many to whom the family history will be a tej-j-a incognita, it becomes necessary that the few following pages of prefatory Memoir should accompany her own "winged words." On the 24th of May 18 1 9, the girl-child of whom we write was born, at Falmouth, into this tough world. She was one of the three children of distinguished parents — distinguished not only by their fine old Quaker lineage, but by the many beautiful qualities which I O MEMOIR. belong to large hearts and minds. Her father, Robert Were Fox, was the eldest of that remarkable family of brothers and sisters whose forebears made Cornwall their resting-place two hundred years ago. The Brothers would have made a noticeable group in any country, and were not less conspicuous from their public spirit and philanthropy than from their scientific acumen and attainments, their geniality, and the simplicity and modesty of their lives. They created a cluster of lovely dwellings in and about Falmouth, which attracted the traveller by their picturesque beauty and southern wealth of flower and tree. One of the most beautiful of these sheltered Cornish homes is Penjerrick, some three miles from that town, the summer residence and one of the dearly-loved homes of Caroline Fox and her parents. It was by experiments and observations during a period of more than forty years that her father, Robert Were Fox, proved the increase of temperature in descending mines, converting Humboldt, a former antagonist, to his view. He was also the inventor of the "Deflector Dipping Needle," which has since been used in all the Arctic Expeditions. Upon his death in 1877 Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, President of the Royal Society, said in his annual address that the Society had experienced a severe loss in "Mr. Fox, eminent for his researches on the temperature, and the magnetic and electrical condition of the interior of the earth, especially in connection with the formation of mineral veins, and who was further the inventor of some, and the im- prover of other instruments, now everywhere em- MEMOIR. I I ployed in ascertaining the properties of terrestrial magnetism." In a very excellent sketch of his life and work by Mr. J. H. Collins, F.G.S., published at Truro in 1878, these inventions and improvements extend into a pamphlet of nearly sixty octavo pages. To this valuable little book we should refer those who care to follow into greater detail the life-work of this ex- cellent simple-hearted philosopher. The following extract from a letter written by Mrs. Schimmelpenninck in 1824, gives a graphic description of the household as it then appeared : — "Having spoken of the house, I must now describe its inhabitants. Imagine Robert Fox, whom you knew as a lad, now a steadfast and established man; the wise but determined and energetic re- gulator of his own, and the prop and firm support of his mother's large family. Picture to yourself his forehead, and the sides of his head with what Spurz- heim used to call 'perpendicular walls of reason and of truth.' Patient investigation, profound reflection, and steadfast determination sit upon his thinking and bent brow. Generous and glowing feeling often kindles his deep-set eyes, whilst the firm closing of his mouth, the square bone of the chin, and the muscular activity and strong form, show that it is continually compressed within by the energy of a self-governing character. Truth and honour un- shaken, conscience unsullied, cool investigating reason, and irresistible force, seem to follow the outlines of his very remarkable character. Maria is widely different. She has not the scientific tastes 1 2 MEMOIR. that distinguish her husband, but her heart and affections, her least actions and her very looks, are so imbued and steeped in the living waters of Divine Truth, that she seems to have come to the perfection of heavenly wisdom, which makes her conversation a rich feast and a blessed instruction. "She is a supereminently excellent mother, always keeping a tender watch over her children without showing anxious care. On our arrival the three little well-ordered children Avithdrew to their play on the verandah, and whilst she conversed cheer- fully and cordially with us, still surrounded by their books and pictures, her watchful eye was constantly upon them. "In the early morning I used to watch her going with them to the beach, with a mule to carry the weary ones; and they bathed in the midst of the rocks and caves, with no spectators but the shags and the sea-gulls. It was pleasant to me, as I was dressing, to watch them coming back, winding along the cliffs; and, as they drew near, Maria seated on her mule, with little Carry in her arms, Anna Maria by her side, and the others surrounding her, repeat- ing their hynms and psalms, they used to look like Raphael's picture of the Holy Family in the flight to Egypt. Maria's maternal countenance on these occasions I shall never forget; nor the sweet and tender emotion of her children. Little Carry espe- cially used to enjoy the ride. 'O Mamma!' said she one day, 'do let me say my hymn louder, for the poor mule is listening and cannot hear me.' Their return I used soon to know by Carry or MEMOIR. 1 3 Barclay besetting me the moment I opened my door, to tell them stories of wild beasts." * Caroline was born, and continued a member of the Society of Friends, in which Body her family have always occupied a foremost position; and she exemplified to a remarkable degree those charming qualities of simple purity, love of learning, and utter regard for Truth, which are some of the more strongly marked features of that community. Her parents were accustomed to pass the winter months at their house in Falmouth, where so many notable friends visited them, moving to Penjerrick for the summer, to revel in the perfect repose of their country life. xA.s a child Caroline drew much attention by her winning ways and signs of an intelligence far above the usual order, and Mrs. Schimmelpenninck again says in another letter: "Caroline is quick, bright, and susceptible, with little black laughing eyes, a merry round face, and as full of tricks and pranks as a marmozet, or Shakespeare's Robin Goodfellow." She was of a somewhat delicate constitution, and consequently was never called upon to face the often severe physical strain of a school education; but in her mother's hands, and aided by the best masters obtainable, she made a progress with which few schools of that day could have successfully competed. She always found pleasure in study under those masters who suited her fastidious taste, and soon learnt to discriminate between those under whose * A portion of this letter appears in the Life of M. A. Schimmelpenninck, edited by C. C. Hankin. Longmans. 1858, 1 4 MEMOIR. guidance she made real progress, and those who were not so successful in their endeavours. But the best part of her education was gained after the schoolroom door was closed, and when she was mistress of her own time. Many and varied were the subjects taken up, and the books she read. All that was good in them she made her own, her fine nature rejecting every- thing else. In particular, the works of Coleridge exercised upon her a peculiar fascination, and stimulated her mind to greater efforts of thought. And it was remarked with what apparent ease she grasped the principles and detail of the most abstruse subjects, as well as the general topics of interest. Upon such a receptive nature the association with her Father's friends exercised the utmost fascina- tion; and how thoroughly she appreciated and com- prehended their conversation is shown in the many lucid notes in her Journals, in which she so well embodied these flying thoughts of varied minds. And it makes a tender and striking picture — this young girl, with her deep reverence and vivid ap- preciation of all the magic world of Thought in which she was permitted to roam, listening with de- light to the utterances of wise men, and storing up their words in her heart. She would say with Steele, "If I were to choose the people with whom I would spend my hours of conversation, they should be certainly such as laboured to make themselves readily and clearly apprehended, and would have patience and curiosity to understand me. When thoughts MEMOIR. 1 5 rise in us fit to utter among familiar friends, , there needs but very little care in clothing them." Every two years she visited London, the journey then consuming some three days — days filled with all the fun and excitement of a pleasant holiday. In 1840 commenced her friendship with the Mills and the Sterlings, much deeply interesting record of which will be found in her Diaries; and it was a bitter parting when, in 1843, a sudden blow came in the death of Mrs. Sterling, followed by the removal of the bereaved family to the Isle of Wight. Her only brother, Robert Barclay Fox (who married Jane Gurney, daughter of Jonathan Back- house of Darlington), and her sister Anna Maria, were her usual companions in her travels, as will be gathered by her frequent reference to one or the other. In reading these Journals it is worthy of notice how rapidly Caroline Fox's character forms itself; at- tracting, reflecting, and assimilating from the stronger natures around her all that is noteworthy, high-toned, and deep-souled. The bright gaiety of the high- spirited girl is rapidly succeeded by the philosophic mind belonging to greater knowledge and maturer years; whilst the quickly recurring losses of dear friends and old companions visibly deepens and broadens the stream of her daily life, until, culminat- ing in the Going-hence of her only Brother, she so pathetically cries, "For whom should I now record these entries of my life?" and then the gravity of Existence permanently settles upon her, with a not unwelcome foreboding that her time is short, and her Day is far spent. 1 6 MEMOIR. If we may say anything of her spiritual life, it seemed to those who knew her best that the intense reality of her faith gave a joyousness to her bright days, and sustained her through dark and perplexed times. Her quiet trust conquered all the doubts and conflicts which hung over her early years, and her submission to a Higher Will became ever more and more confident and satisfying — nay, one may dare to say, more triumphant. Her active sympathies with the poor and the sick were powerfully awakened under its benign influence; and the struggle for "more light" through which this beautiful soul was passing, cannot be more forcibly set forth than in her own words, which were found in her desk after her death, but which were written when she was but one-and-twenty years of age: — '''' July 14, 1 84 1. — As I think it may be a pro- fitable employment, and, at some future time when faith is at a low ebb, may recall with greater dis- tinctness the struggle through which a spark of true faith was lighted in my soul, — I will attempt to make some notes of the condition of my mind in the summer and autumn of 1840. "I felt I had hitherto been taking things of the highest importance too much for granted, without feeling their reality; and this I knew to be a very unhealthy state of things. This consciousness was mainly awakened by a few solemn words spoken by Dr. Calvert on the worthlessness of a merely tradi- tional faith in highest truths. The more I examined into my reasons for believing some of our leading doctrines, the more was I staggered and filled with MEMOIR. 17 anxious thought. I very earnestly deshed to be taught the truth, at whatever price I might learn it. "Carlyle admirably expresses my state of mind when he speaks 'of the spasmodic efforts of some to believe that they believe: But it would not do; I felt I was playing a dishonest part with myself, and with my God. I fully believed in Christ as a Mediator and Exemplar, but I could not bring my reason to accept Him as a Saviour and Redeemer. What kept me at this time from being a Unitarian was, that I retained a perfect conviction that though / could not see into the truth of the doctrine, it was never- theless true; and that if I continued earnestly and sincerely to struggle after it, by prayer, reading, and meditation, I should one day be permitted to know it for myself A remark that Hender Molesworth one day incidentally made to me was often a gleam of comfort to me during this time of distress and warfare. He said that he thought 'a want of faith was sometimes jDermitted to those who would other- wise have no trials; for you know,' he added, 'a want of faith is a very great trial.' I did not tell him how truly he had spoken. "The first gleam of light, 'the first cold light of morning' which gave promise of day with its noontide glories, dawned on me one day at Meeting, when I had been meditating on my state in great depression. I seemed to hear the words articulated in my spirit, 'Live up to the light thou hast; and more will be granted thee.' Then I believed that God speaks to man by His Spirit. I strove to live a more Christian life, in unison with what I knew to be right, and Memories of Old Friefuis. I. 1 8 MEMOIR. looked for brighter days; not forgetting the blessings that are granted to prayer. "The next epoch in my spiritual life was an ex- position of the I oth chapter of Hebrews, which John Stevenson was enabled to give, and I was permitted to receive. He commented on our utter inability to fulfil the law, and the certain penalty of death we had thereby incurred. We no longer confided in the efficacy of the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin: on what then could we build any hope of escape from the eternal wrath of God? When brought to this point of true anxiety about our salvation, our eyes are mercifully opened to see the Saviour offer- ing Himself as the one eternal sacrifice for sin; re- quiring, as the terms of our redemption, that the faith which had been experienced in the old Jewish sacri- fices should be transferred to and centred in Himself Thus the law was a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, to teach us faith in a sacrifice, the fulness of whose meaning Christ alone could exhibit. I was much interested in this at the time, but it had not its full effect till some days after. "I was walking sorrowfully and thoughtfully to Penrose, and in my way back the description of Teufelsdrockh's triumph over fear came forcibly and vividly before me. Why (I said to myself) should I thus help to swell the triumph of the infernal powers by tampering with their miserable suggestions of un- belief, and neglecting the amazing gift which Christ has so long been offering me? I know that He is the Redeemer of all such as believe in Him; and I will believe, and look for His support in the con- MEMOIR. 19 test with unbelief. My doubts and difficulties im- mediately became shadowy, and my mind was full of happy anticipations of speedy and complete de- liverance from them. The next morning, as I was employed in making some notes of John Stevenson's comments (before alluded to) in my Journal, the truth came before me with a clearness and con- sistency and brightness indescribably delightful; the reasonableness of some Christian doctrines which had before especially perplexed me, shone now as clear as noonday; and the thankfulness I felt for the blessed light that was granted was intense. I was able throughout to recognise the workings of the Holy Spirit on my heart, for I had often before read and listened to arguments equally conclusive, and indeed sometimes identical, with those which were now addressed with such evidence to my heart; but only this was the time appointed for their due influence. "I by no means regret the perplexities and doubts and troubles through which I have passed. They have increased my toleration for others, and given me a much higher value and deeper affection for those glorious truths which make up the Chris- tian's hope, than I could have had if they had only been passively imbibed. The hard struggle I have had to make them my own must rise in my memory to check future faithlessness; and the certain con- viction that the degree of faith which has been granted was purely a gift from above, leads me with 20 MEMOIR. earnestness and faith to petition for myself and others, 'Lord, increase our faith.' " And some years after she writes: — ^^ April 13, 1855. — And now I must add a later conviction, namely, that the voluntary sacrifice of Christ was not undertaken to appease the wrath of God, but rather to express His infinite love to His creatures, and thus to reconcile them unto Himself. Every species of sacrifice meets, and is glorified, in Him; and He claims from His children, as the proof of their loyalty and love, that perfect subjec- tion of their own wills to His, of which self-sacrifice He is the Eternal Pattern; and bestows the will and the power to be guided only by Himself." A character such as hers could not pass through life without acutely feeling its sorrows as well as joys; accordingly there are in these Journals many records of personal suffering and inward struggle far too sacred to be printed here. Her nature came out of sorrow, however deep or bitter, strengthened and ennobled by the lesson, and striving ever more earnestly for victory over self. She cannot be long self-absorbed; whatever is worthy of remembrance in the daily round of life attracts her attention, and calls forth her powers of graphic description, even after griefs and losses that would have quelled a less elastic spirit. In 1848 she broke a blood-vessel, and a long convalescence ensued. Her almost miraculous pre- servation when pursued by a bull in 1853, when she lay insensible on the ground, the fierce animal MEMOIR. 2 1 roaring round but never touching her, evoked from her brother Barclay the following lines: — "Bow the head and bend the knee, CJh, give thanks, how fervently, For a darhng sister's breath! Back my veiy blood doth shrink, God of mercies ! when I think How she lay upon the brink Of an agonising death ! While the darkness gathers o'er me, Clear the picture lives before me : There the monster in his wrath, And his lovely victim lying, Praying inly — as the dying Only pray, — I see her lying Helplessly across his path. ( )h, the horror of that scene. Oh, the sight that might have been Had no angel stepped between The destroyer and his prey; Had not God, who hears our cry, 'Save me, Father, or I die!' vSent His angel from on high To save our precious one this day. Gently came unconsciousness All-enfolding like a dress; Hush'd she lay, and motionless Freed from sense and saved from fear; All without was but a dream. Only the pearl gates did seem Very real and very near. For the life to us restored, Not we only thank thee. Lord; Oh! what deep hosannas rise 2 2 MEMOIR. From the many she hath blest, From the poor and the distrest! Oh, the gratitude exprest By throbbing hearts and moistened eyes ! So living was her sympathy, That they dream'd not she could die. Till the Shadow swept so nigh, Startling with an unknown fear. Thus the day's untainted light Blesseth all and maketh bright; But its work we know not quite Till the darkness makes it clear. " When her brother left England for his health in 1854, Caroline accompanied him to Southampton, and there bade him a last farewell. He died near Cairo in the following March, and lies in the English cemetery of that city. The following extract from a letter written by Caroline upon the subject is perhaps better placed here than m its order of date in the book. It is addressed to her cousin, Juliet Backhouse, and says: "We have agreed that his dear name shall never be banished from our midst, where he feels to us more vitally and influentially present than ever; he shall not be banished even to Heaven. Oh, what it is to have had such a memory to leave to those who love you! Almost nothing to forget, everything to re- member with thankfulness and love. Surely memory will be carried on into the future, and make that bright too with his own dear presence; or is it not, will it not be, even more than memory? This may be all fancy, and very foolish, but I cannot feel him far away, and the thought of him does not sadden MEMOIR. 2^ me. It is stimulating, elevating, encouraging, the sense that one of ourselves is safely landed, all the toil and battle over, the end of the race attained, and God glorified in his salvation. Oh, it is all so wonderful, so blessed, that I have no time left for mourning. I could not have conceived the sting of death so utterly removed, not only for him, but for us. The same 'canopy of love' is surely over us both, and we can but feel that it will take a long lifetime to thank our God and Saviour for the beautiful mercies which have glorified the whole trial, and which must always make it a most holy thing. He has himself been so evidently, though unconsciously, preparing us for it; telling us of his own childlike confidence, and committing his nearest and dearest to the same Fatherly care, in lovely words which often thrilled us at the time, but are, how precious, now." In 1858 she lost her mother, who was a daughter of Robert Barclay of Bury Hill. Caroline passed the following spring, with her father and sister, chiefly in Rome and Naples. The death of her brother's widow at Pau, in i860, brought with its deep sense of loss a kindly solace, as her four orphan boys came to live at Penjerrick and Grove Hill, which were henceforward to be their homes, whilst the little daughter Jane found that wealth of parents' love she had lost so soon, renewed in all its fulness in the hearts of her Uncle and Aunt, Edmund and Juliet Backhouse. The ensuing years were now filled with a new interest to Carohne Fox, who watched with untiring care the development of 24 MEMOIR. her young nephews, entering with zest into many of their interests. In 1863 a journey to Spain was undertaken with her father, who had been chosen as one of the De- puties to plead for the freedom of Matamoros. Then came warnings of serious physical weakness; and the usual weary search for health was undertaken, when the Riviera and other places were visited with but varying success. She was in Venice in 1866, and was sufficiently restored to see the Paris Ex- hibition held in the succeeding year, but each winter found her less able to cope with its severities. Her cheerfulness and interest in all around never abated, and her Journals still marked the daily events of her life. Notwithstanding all this, it must not be thought that she was a constant invalid. She was subject to wearisome attacks of chronic bronchitis, and rallied wonderfully between them. During the Christmas of 1870, when the snow lay on the ground, with sunshine and blue skies overhead, she looked blooming, and walked frequently a mile or two to the cottages around: but when the thaw set in, her friends trembled for her; the damp, chilly air never suited her, and it was a cause of distress to be cut off from her out-of-doors objects of in- terest. She took cold when going her rounds with New Year's gifts, and it quickly turned to a more severe attack of bronchitis than her lessening strength could struggle through; and although the sense of illness seemed lifted off, the old rallying power was gone. This year was to be, in truth, a new one for MEMOIR. 25 her; and freed from every pang, nor called upon to say that awful word, "Farewell," she entered into her New Life during sleep in the early morning of the 1 2th January 187 1. To her bereaved Father the following words, written by his child when she was rich in the pre- sence of both parents, were inexpressibly helpful and soothing: — "My precious Father and Mother must keep whatever of mine they may like to have. It is vain to attempt to thank them for all they have done for me. I have often, very often, been most provoking and irresponsive to their loving- kindness, but in the bottom of my heart not, I trust, ungrateful. Farewell, darlings all. If you can for- give and love me, remember with comfort that our God and Saviour is even more loving, more for- giving than you are, and think of me with peace and trustfulness and thanksgiving, as one whom He has graciously taught, mainly through sorrows, to trust and to love Him utterly, and to grieve only over the ingratitude of my sins, the sense of which is but deepened by His free forgiveness," Ten years have passed since that parting day, and her memory is still fondly cherished. To some of her dear ones the Journals have been shown, but it is only in the last few months that her sister has consented to allow a larger circle to share in the perusal. Caroline Fox was unusually rich in her friend- ships, and she had the power of graphically sketch- ing scenes and conversations. It is hoped that no- thing will be found in these pages which should 2 6 MEMOIR. seem like drawing aside the curtains that ought to be left covering the inner life of all. Her criticisms, though often bright, sharp, and humorous, are never poisoned or cruel; and the friends who survive will not apprehend with dread the opportunities which her MSS. have given for stamping her impressions "like footprints on the sands of Time." The English world of thought to-day owes much to men whom Caroline Fox called friends, and words they uttered are not without present significance. Moreover, these records of so many years past, ap- pearing now, interest us the more, because we can compare the thoughts, the wishes, the prophecies of these men with much that has since resulted from their teaching. The present generation is eager enough to con even passing expressions from Mill, Carlyle, Bunsen, and other members of that charmed circle; and ''human portraits, faithfully drawn," as Carlyle says, "are of all pictures the welcomest on Human Walls." And so we launch this little Boat into the Ocean, with some confidence that it will make its way to Shores where its freight of goodly "Memories," pre- served for us by a keen intellect and warm heart, will be welcomed as a record of many who have passed "to where beyond these voices there is Peace." MEMORIES OF OLD FRIENDS. CHAPTER I. 1835- "Home is the resort Of love, of joy, of peace and. plenty, where Supporting and supported, polish'd friends And dear relations mingle into bliss." — THOM.SON. Falmouth, March ig. — Davies Gilbert* and others dined liere. He was full of anecdote and interest, as usual. One on the definition of "treade" was good."^"* It is really derived from "trad" (Saxon), a thing. When he was on the bench a man was brought before one of the judges on some poisoning charge, and the examination of a witness * Gillcrt (Davies), formerly named Giddy, born 1767, educated at Pembroke College, Oxford. M.P. successively for Helston and Eodmin, and President of the Royal Society. Celebrated as an antiquary and writer on Cornish topography, &c. He died in 1S39. ** A Cornish term used by the lower classes as a synonym for trash. "Doctor's treade," for instance, is a contemptuous phrase for medicine. 2 8 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1835. proceeded thus: Q. "Did you see anything in the loaf?" A. "Yes; when I cut it open, I found it full of traed." Q. "Traed; why, what is tha,t?" A. "Oh, it's rope-ends, dead mice, and other com- bustibles." March 30. — Heard at breakfast that the famous Joseph Wolff, the missionary, had arrived at Fal- mouth. He gave an interesting lecture on the sub- ject of his travels in Persia, &c. He has encountered many dangers, but "the Lord has delivered him out of them all." It was well attended. Lady Georgina Wolff is at Malta, as she does not like the sea. March 31. — At four o'clock Joseph Wolff came to dinner, and told us more about the various per- sons and places he has visited. Of Lady Hester Stanhope* he gave a very amusing account. When at Mount Lebanon he sent a message with which he was charged to a lady staying with her. On which Lady Hester sent him a most extraordinary but clever letter, beginning, "How can you, a vile apostate, presume to hold any intercourse with my family? Light travels faster than sound, therefore how can you think that your cracked voice can precede the glorious light of the Gospel, which is * StaiiJiope (Lady Hester), eldest child of the third Lord Stanhope by his first wife Lady Hester Pitt, sister of the gr"eat statesman William Pitt, with whom she lived until his death. In 1 8 10 she took up her abode on Mount Lebanon, adopted the dress of an Arabian chieftain, and was regarded by the Bedouins as Queen of the "Wilderness. Her temper was most despotic, and her charities, when she had the means, extensive. Her memoirs, as related by herself, are most graphic and amusing. She died in Syria in 1S39, aged sixty-three. /ETAT. 1 6. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. Zg eventually to shine naturally in these parts?" He returned an appropriate answer, but he noticed the servant he had sent with it came back limping, having been actually kicked and beaten by her ladyship /;/ propria persona. Many passages in the Bible he cleared up by observation of the places mentioned. Respecting the prophecy about Babylon "that owls shall dwell there and satyrs shall dance there," he said that "satyrs" should be translated "worshippers of devils," and that once a year the Afghans,* who worship little devilish gods, assemble there in the night and hold their dance. He sang us some beautiful Hebrew melodies. October 3. — At breakfast we were pleasantly sur- prised to see Joseph Wolff** walk in, without being announced. He was full of affection, and wanted to kiss Papa, who, retreating, left only his shoulder within reach, which accordingly received a salute. He joined us at breakfast, and described his late intercourse and correspondence with Drummond and many of the Irvingite party. Their want of Christian love speaks strongly against them, and their arrogating to themselves the titles of angels, prophets, and apostles shows a want of Christian humility. He embarked soon afterwards on his way to Timbuctoo, and perhaps we shall never see him again. * Query: Assyrians? ** ^Ft'^ (Joseph), D.D,, LL.D., son of a Jewish Rabbi, bom 1795, baptized in Roman Catholic Church 1810, expelled for want of faith 1818, became Protestant and Missionary, mar- ried 1827 Lady Georgina Mary Walpole, daughter of the second Lord Orford. He died 1S62. 30 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1835. October 15. — Papa and I spent the evening at the Derwent Coleridges' at Helston. It left a beauti- ful impression on us, and we visited the lovely little sleepers, Derwent and Lily, saw the library, and the silver salver presented by his boys, and, best of all, listened to his reading of passages from "Christabel" and other of his father's poems, with his own rare felicity. He talked of architecture with reference to George Wightwick's designs for the Falmouth Polytechnic, and mentioned a double cube as the handsomest of all forms for a room. Mary Coleridge was in all her beauty, and ministered to a bevy of schoolboys at supper with characteristic energy. .ETAT. l6. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. ^L CHAPTER II. 1836. "Form'd by thy converse happily to steer, From grave to gay, from Uvely to severe. — PoPE. Falmouth, April 7. — Sir Charles Lemon, John Enys, and Henry de la Beche* came to Imicheon. The last named is a very entertaining person, his manners rather French, his conversation spirited and full of illustrative anecdote. He looks about forty, a handsome but care-worn face, brown eyes and hair, and gold spectacles. He exhibited and ex- plained the geological maps of Devon and Corn- wall, which he is now perfecting for the Ordnance. Accordingly he is constantly shifting his residence that he may survey accurately in these parts. Papa read his new theory of "Veins;" De la Beche thoroughly seconds his ideas of galvanic agency, but will not yield the point of the fissures being in constant progression; he says they were all * De la Beche (Sir Henry Thomas) , the eminent geologist, born 1 796, educated at Great Marlow and Sandhurst, President of the Geographical Society in 1847. In 1831 he projected the plan of making a geological map of England on his own re- sponsibility, comm.encing with Cornwall; the result being that the Government instituted the Geological Survey. He established the School of Mines, was knighted in 1848, and died in 1855. ^2 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1 836. antediluvian. They stayed several hours, and were particularly charmed with some experiments about tin and galvanism. Apri'l 25. — Henry de la Beche and his daughter Bessie spent the day with us, and we took a merry country excursion, the geological part of which was extremely satisfactory to all parties. Bessie is a bright affectionate girl, devoutly attached to her father, with whom she travels from place to place. She is about fifteen, fond of books, but her main education is in her father's society. They are now stationed at Redruth. Bristol, August 22. — The gentlemen returned from their sections of the British Association Meet- ing this morning very much gratified, and after dinner we five started by the coach, and in the course of time arrived at the large British Babylon. It was a work of time to get into it most assuredly, and Uncle Hillhouse thought of taking us all back again, in which case we should indeed have been taken all aback. However, the ladies, dear crea- tures, would not hear of that, so by most extra- ordinary muscular exertions, we succeeded in gain- ing admittance. We got fairish seats, but all the time the people made such a provoking noise, talk- ing, coming in, and going out, opening and shutting boxes, that very little could we hear. But we saw Tom Moore in all his glory, looking "like a little Cupid with a quizzing-glass in constant motion." He seemed as gay and happy as a lark, and it was pleasant to spend a whole evening in his immediate presence. There was a beautiful girl just before us, /ETAT. 17. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. ^^ who was most obliging in putting herself into the most charming attitudes for our diversion. August 27. — After dinner to the playhouse, and a glorious merry time we had. The Meeting was principally employed in thanksgiving, individually and collectively. Sir W. Hamilton giving us a most pathetic address on his gratitude to Bristol and the Bristolians. Dr. Buckland declared he should be worse than a dog were he to forget it. There was a remarkable sameness in these long-winded compli- ments and grateful expressions. But when Tom Moore arose with a little paper in his little hand, the theatre was almost knocked down with rever- berations of applause. He rose to thank Mr. Miles for his liberality in throwing open his picture gallery. He proceeded to wonder why such a person as he was, a humble representative of literature, was chosen to address them on this scientific occasion. He supposed that in this intellectual banquet he was called for as one of the light dishes to succeed the gros morceaux of which we had been partaking, and he declared Science to be the handmaid, or rather the torch-bearer, of Religion. August 31. — We were returning from the British Association Meeting, and Dr. Buckland was an out- side compagnon de voyage, but often came at stop- ping places for a little chat.* He was much struck by the dearth of trees in Cornwall, and told of a * Buckland (William), Dean of Westminster, bom 1784. He published many well-known works on geology, and he died 1856. He was the father of Frank T. Buckland, the naturalist, who died in 1880. Memories of Old Friends. I. 3 34 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1836. friend of his who had made the off-hand remark that there was not a tree in the parish, when a parishioner remonstrated with him on belying the parish, and truly asserted that there were seven. Last evening we were at Exeter, and had an in- teresting exploration of the old Cathedral before a dinner, after which our philosophers, Dr. Buckland, Professor Johnston, and Papa, got into such deep matters that we left them in despair. Dr. Buck- land says he feels very nervous in addressing large assemblies till he has once made them laugh, and then he is entirely at ease. He came on to the Polytechnic and stayed with us. One wet day he took his turn with three others in lecturing to an attentive audience in our drawing-room; we listened with great and gaping interest to a description of his geological map, the frontispiece to his forth- coming Bridgewater Treatise. He gave very clear details of the gradual formation of our earth, which, he is thoroughly convinced, took its rise ages before the Mosaic record. He says that Luther must have taken a similar view, as in his translation of the Bible he puts "ist" at the third verse of the first chapter of Genesis, which showed his belief that the two first verses relate to something anterior. He explains the formation of hills with valleys between them by eruj)tions underground. He gave amusing descriptions of antediluvian animals, plants, and skulls. They have even discovered a large fossil fish with its food only partially digested. The lecture showed wonderfully persevering research and a great knowledge of comparative anatomy. iETAT. 17. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 35 Falmouth, September 10. — Poor Dr. Buckland has sprained his leg, and we are taking care of him a little. He and other British Association friends had been excursing in the west, and took sundry- Cornish pies with them. Buckland they treated to lime and cold water. He left us, and a few days afterwards wrote to announce the happy birth of a daughter, and the request of his publisher to print a further edition of 5000 copies of his new work. He also speaks with much interest about A. Crosse's insects, which the papers describe his having observed whilst manipulating some quartz crystal. They were little anomalous forms at first, but gradually took the shape of insects, and this after a lavation in muriatic acid. Dr. Buckland supposes them to be fossil ovse of Sorleamis re- suscitated by modern scientific activity, and reasons gravely on this theory. September 12. — Professor Wheatstone, the Davies Gilberts, and Professor Powell were ushered in, and joined our party. Wheatstone was most interesting at dinner; he knows John Martin intimately, and says he is exactly like his pictures — all enthusiasm and sublimity, amazingly self-opiniated, and has lately taken a mechanical turn. He thinks him a man of great but misdirected genius. He gave some instances of monomania, and mentioned one extraordinary trance case of a man who was chop- ping down trees in a wood, and laid down and slept much longer than usual; when he awoke life was a blank; he was not in a state of idiotcy, but all his acquired knowledge was obliterated. He 36 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1836. learned to read again quickly, but all that had passed previously to his trance was entirely swept away from his memory. At the age of fifty he slept again an unusual time; on awaking, his first act was to go to the tree which he had been felling on the former occasion to look for his hatchet; the medium life was now forgotten, and the former returned in its distinct reality. This is well authenticated. September 2^.- — Just after tea "a gentleman" was announced, who proved to be nothing less than Professor Sedgwick! * He had unluckily unpacked at the inn, and so preferred keeping to those quarters. He goes to-morrow with Barclay** to Pendour Bay in search of organic remains, which he fully expects to find there, and does not think the Cornish have any cause to boast of their primitive rocks, as he has discovered hmestone with plenty of organic remains, and even some coal in the east of the county. September 24. — After dinner we were joined by Sedgwick and Barclay, who had thoroughly enjoyed their morning, but had discovered no organic re- mains but some limestone. A note came for Sedg- wick from Sir Charles Lemon, which he read to us: "I hope if you have brought Mrs. Sedgwick with you that we shall have the pleasure of seeing her to stay at Carclew, and I will do my best to amuse her whilst you are flirting with primitive forma- tions!" As Mr. Sedgwick is a bachelor, this was * Scdgwict; (Rev. Adam), the celebrated Woodwardi an Pro- fessor of Geology to the University of Cambridge. ** Fox (Robert Barclay), only brother of Caroline Fox. ^TAT. 17. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 37 pronounced quite a capital joke of Sir Charles's, "who," said Sedgwick, "is always laughing at my desolate situation." September 30. — "Mrs. Corgie," the rightful Lady George Murray, arrived. She is a delightful woman, and told us many anecdotes of the late Queen Charlotte, whom she knew intimately. Many of the autograph letters of the Royal Family she gave me are addressed to herself. The Queen (Charlotte) japanned three little tables; one she gave to the King, another to the Prince of Wales, and the third to Lady George, which she has filled with the letters she has received from the Royal Family. She told us that about four years ago the Princess Victoria was made acquainted with her probable dignity by her mother's desiring that when in reading the history of England she came to the death of the Princess Charlotte, she should bring the book and read to her, and on coming to that period she made a dead halt, and asked the Duchess if it were possible she would ever be queen. Her mother re- plied, "As this is a very possible circumstance, I am anxious to bring you up as a good woman, then you will be a good queen also." The care observed in the Princess's education is exemplary, and every- thing is indeed done to bring about this result. She is a good linguist, an acute foreign politician, and possesses very sound common sense. October 3.- — Captain Fitz-Roy * came to tea. He * Fitz-Roy (Admiral Robert), born 1805. His, and Dr. Charles Darwin's published accounts of this voyage are well known. 38 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1836. returned yesterday from a five years' voyage, in H.M.S. Beagle, of scientific research round the world, and is going to write a book. He came to see papa's dipping needle deflector, with which he was highly delighted. He has one of Gamby's on board, but this beats it in accuracy. He stayed till after eleven, and is a most agreeable, gentlemanlike young man. He has had a delightful voyage, and made many discoveries, as there Avere several scientific men on board. Darwin, the "fly-catcher" and "stone-pounder," has decided that the coral insects do not work up from the bottom of the sea against wind and tide, but that the reef is first thrown up by a volcano, and they then surmount it, after which it gradually sinks. This is proved by their never finding coral insects alive beyond the depth of ten feet. He is astonished at the wonderful strides everything has made during the five years afore-passed. October 27. — Lady George Murray gave me an interesting account of Lady Byron, whom she challenges anybody to know without loving. The first present she made to Ada was a splendid like- ness of Lord Byron, an edition of whose works is in her library, to which Ada has free access. She has done nothing to prejudice her against her father. The celebrated "Fare-thee-well" was presented in such a manner as rather to take off from the senti- ment of the thing. He wrapt up in it a number of unpaid bills, and threw it into the room where she was sitting, and then rushed out of the house. Ada is very fond of mathematics, astronomy, and music, but possesses no soul for poetry. ^TAT. 17. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 39 November 24. — Large dinner-party. Captain Belcher,* an admirable observer of many things, was very amusing. In 1827, when among the Esquimaux with Captain James Ross,"^* they were treated in a very unfriendly manner; he and five men were wrecked and their boat sunk, and they were obliged to betake themselves to the land of their enemies, twenty-four of whom, well armed with clubs, came down to dispute their proceedings. They had only one brace of percussion pistols amongst them and one load of powder and ball. The natives were aware of the terrible effect of these instruments but not of their scarcity, so Captain Belcher went out of his tent just before their faces, as if looking for something, put his hand in his pocket, and drew out a pistol as if by accident and hurried it back again. The other sailors, by slightly varying the ruse, led the natives to imagine the presence of six pair of pistols, and so they did not venture on an attack. Shortly after this, having been repeatedly harassed, they were thankful to see their ship approaching; the * Belcher (Sir Edward), C.B., F.R.S., F.G.S., Vice- Ad- miral, born 1799, entered the Navy 181 2, acted as assistant- surveyor to Captain Beechey in 1824 in his voyage of discovery to Behring's Straits. He was employed in distinguished service in the Arctic regions and the China War. He commanded the Franklin search in 1852, and died in 1877. ** Ross (Sir James Clark), R.N., born 1800. In 1848 he made an unsuccessful search for Sir John Franklin. His scientific attainments were very great, and received the acknow- ledgment of many English and Foreign societies. His attempts to reach the South Pole are mentioned later on in these Journals. 40 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1836. Esquimaux now prepared for a final assault, and came in great numbers demanding their flag. See- ing the helplessness of his party, Captain Belcher said, "Well, you shall have the flag, but you must immediately erect it on the top of that hill." They gladly consented, and Captain Belcher fastened it for them on a flagstaff, but put it Union down- wards. The consequence was that the ship's boats immediately put off and pulled with all their might, the natives scampered off, the flag was rescued, and the little party safely restored to their beloved ship. I should like to hear the Esquimaux's history of the same period. Captain Belcher has invented a very ingenious instrument for measuring the temperature of the Avater down to "bottom sound- ings." He is a great disciplinarian, and certainly not popular in the navy, but very clever and in- tensely methodical. December 2.- — We called at Pearce's Hotel on the Begum of Oude, who is leaving England (where her husband is ambassador), on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Her bright little Hindustani maid told us she was "gone down cappin's;" so to Captain Clavel's we followed her and spent a most amusing half-hour in her society. She was seated in great state in the midst of the family circle, talking English with great self-possession spite of her charming blunders. Her dress was an immense pair of trousers of striped Indian silk, a Cashmere shawl laid over her head, over a close covering of blue and yellow silk, two pairs of remarkable slippers, numbers of anklets and leglets, a great deal of jewellery, and a large blue ^TAT. 17. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 4 1 cloak over all. She was very conversable, showed us her ornaments, wrote her name and title in English and Arabic in my book, and offered to make an egg curry. At the top of the page where she wrote her name she inscribed in Arabic sign "Allah," saying, "That name God you take great care of." She sat by Mrs. Clavel, and after petting and stroking her for a while, declared, "Love I you." She promised her and Leonora a Cashmere shawl apiece, adding, "I get them very cheap, five shillings, seven shillings, ten shillings, very good, for I daughter king, duty take I, tell merchants my, make shawls, and I send you and miss." She has spent a year in London, her name is Marriam and her husband's Molv^ Mohammed Ishmael. Her face is one of quick sagacity but ex- treme ugliness. December 3. — The next day we found her squat- ting on her bed on the floor, an idiot servant of the Prophet in a little heap in one corner, her black- eyed handmaiden grinning us a welcome, and a sacred kitten frolicking over the trappings of Eastern state. We were most graciously received with a shriek of pleasure. Her observations on English life were very entertaining. She told us of going to "the Court of the King of London. — He very good man, but he no power. — Parliament all power. — King no give half-penny but call Parliament, make council, council give leave. King give half-penny. — For public charity King give one sovereign, poor little shopman, baker-man, fish-man, barter-man also give one sovereign. Poor King! — King Oude he 4:2 JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 1836. give one thousand rupees, palanquin mans with gold stick, elephants, camels: no ask Parliament." She and Papa talked a little theology, she of course began it. "I believe but one God, very bad not to think so; you believe Jesus Christ was prophet?" Papa said, "Not a prophet, but the Son of God." "How you think so, God Almighty never marry! In London every one go to ball, theatre, dance, sing, walk, read; no go Mecca. I mind not that, I go Mecca, I very good woman." She took a great fancy to Barclay, declaring him very like her son. She offered him a commission in the King of Oude's army and £ 1200 a year if he would come over and be her son; she gave him a rupee, probably as bounty money. There are 200 English in her King's service, two doctors, and three aides-de-camp. She showed us some magnificent jewellery, immense pearls, diamonds, and emeralds, tied up so care- lessly in a dirty handkerchief. Her armlets were very curious, and she had a silver ring on her great toe which lay in no obscurity before her. Then a number of her superb dresses were displayed, gold and silver tissues, satins, cashmeres, muslins of an almost impossible thinness, which she is going to give away at Mecca. She is aunt to the present, sister of the late, and daughter of the former. King of Oude. She has a stone house in which she keeps fifteen Persian cats. It is a great virtue to keep cats, and a virtue with infinite reward attached, to keep an idiot; the one with her here she dis- covered in London, and was very glad to appropriate the little Eastern mystery. Aunt Charles's bonnet ^TAT. 17. JOURNALS OF CAROLINE FOX. 43 amused her, she wanted to know if it was a new fashion; she talked of the Quakers, and said they were honest and never told lies. December 5. — To-day the Begum began almost at once on theology, asking mamma if "she were a reh'gieuse,''^ and then began to expound her own creed. She took the Koran and read some passages, then an English psalm containing similar sentiments, then she chanted a Mahometan collect beautifully in Arabic and Hindustani. She made mamma write all our names that she might send us a letter, and then desired Aunt Lucy to write something, the purport of which it was not easy to divine. At last she explained herself, "Say what you think of Mar- riam Begum, say she religious, or she bad woman, or whatever you think." Poor Aunt Lucy could not refuse, and accordingly looked sapient, bit her pen- stump, and behold the precipitate from this strong acid, "We have been much interested in seeing Marriam Begum, and think her a religious lady." I think a moral chemist would pronounce this to be the result of more alkali than acid, but it was an awkward corner to be driven into. She was com- ing to visit us to-day, but had to embark instead, after expressing her hopes that we should meet again in Oude! Decejuber 15. — John Murray'^ arrived, and Avas very amusing, describing all manner of things. He * John Murray, lecturer and writer on the physiology of plants,