He that travels far oft turns aside

To view some rugged rock or mould'ring tower,
Which seen delights him.-Then coming home,
Describes and prints it, that the world may know.
So I with brush in hand and pallet spread,
Paint cards and dolls, and every idle thing
That fancy finds in her excursive flights.

COWPER.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

LONDON:

HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,
13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1837.

ΤΟ

LADY CHATTERTON,

These Volumes,

A MEMORIAL OF AFFECTION AND LOVE,

ARE INSCRIBED,

BY HER FONDLY ATTACHED FRIEND.

PREFACСЕ.

IT is the fashion to hold, or rather to affect to hold, the opinion of the public in considerable disrespect. Few, perhaps, are sincere on this point: but, however it may be with others, I must honestly confess the truth, and plead guilty to a wholesome dread of the frowns of that august and mysterious power.

When, therefore, it was first suggested to me to print the following pages, I looked with no small dismay at the rambling lucubrations of my diary. They had been hastily written on the impulse of the moment, some in the carriage as we drove along, some on returning from a sight or excursion, while the enthu