for near a mile, up elevated ground, and the chance views of the house through the grand trees are fine. We spent some two hours here, and then drove over to Penshurst; it is seven miles off; returning on the same road, and turning off some three miles from Tunbridge. The front of Penshurst Place is more imposing than that of Knowle, but it is smaller and more recent, built in the reign of Edward VI. We first entered the fine old Parish Church adjoining: in the choir aisle are the tombs of the Sidneys; Sir Philip lies here in effigy, and there are many others of the family there; it is a noble old Church, with a fine tower, near which a gateway leads to the Place; its Baronial Hall has been disfigured by attempts at frescos, which are unfinished; but the oak roof is uninjured; in the centre are massive fire irons, and a fireplace very ancient. The house is now in great disorder: there are many fine portraits of the Sidneys, and also Sir Philip's sword, Buckingham's bridle, &c., Queen Elizabeth's room, with her state bed and the furniture of the room, embroidered with her own hands, is left in its original richness; with fine arras hangings, and many fine paintings. The old disordered armory has many relics; Charles I's boots, and many pieces of armor of that and earlier times. Lord de Lisle is its present owner, and he is a Sidney, in the Life Guards: the exterior has been repaired, but the interior is neglected: the Park is pretty; the moat and parapet are planted with flowers; the roses were in full bloom here, as everywhere else about this country, climbing over the hedges and cottage thatch. Returned to Tunbridge, and while dinner was preparing, visited the fine ruins of the Castle here: the great tower, with the moat, and part of the look-out tower alone, remain: it stands some 70 feet high, above the Medway river; it was built by the Conquerer, and is of enormous size and strength. The views here are most beautiful, with the heavy foliage, clustering thick, and climbing to the summit. The earth has filled up the look-out tower, and it is now a garden. After dinner at the Rose and Crown we returned to town. 30TH.-At home in the morning; in the city on business in the afternoon. JULY 1.-Went with Mr. R. over the Bank of England. Its buildings cover 4 acres ; 900 clerks and subordinates are employed. Went through every portion except the vaults; admired the ingenious machinery for weighing Sovereigns, numbering pages of books, the Tell-Tale to announce the number of printed sheets, and the exhaustion pump to cool the atmosphere produced by the hot air pipes. Spent two hours at the Bank, then to the Polytechnic Institution. A model of the Wheatstone's Telegraph was exhibited in operation. It worked by making the needles deflect by handles, and watching their turnings; slow, imperfect, and much inferior to Morse's. Afternoon at home. 2D.-Designed going to Woburn, but too cloudy. Called on S. in the morning; accepted his invite for Sunday to his Box in Berks. Afternoon spent writing at home. Evening with Dr. Herman. 3RD.-Morning called on Mrs. R Afternoon at home writing. Evening at Her Majesty's Theatre to hear Jenny Lind. Of course, the house was crowded in every part. The Queen, Prince Waldemar, and great numbers of the nobility were there. Jenny performed Amina in Somnambula. She is handsomer than the pictures. Her tones are inexpressibly sweet; her action the finest I ever saw; so apparently natural, and con amore, and yet so lady like. “Ah non ginnge," was encored 5 times, and in it she displayed wondrous power. Grisi and her power fade away in comparison; but the Company and the Orchestra are very ordinary. Gardoni, the tenor is all that is worthy of praise. Her whispered singing of "Oh! come lieto e il popolo," and "al tempio ne fa scortea," and of "Ardon le sacre tede," and "O! Madre Mia m'aita," and "non mi sostiene il pie," and "al mio," &c., was overpoweringly fine. In fact, none can resist being swept off into raptures, with her matchless performance. Carlotta Grisi danced La Esmeralda superbly. 4TH.-Dinner party at a country seat on the Thames. 6тн.. -Visited Winchester; its Cathedral and Hospital of St. Cross, and spent two days there. 7TH.-At Southampton, intending to visit the Isle of Wight, but the weather was not propitious. Called on our Consul here, Mr. Rodney, of Va.; then took carriage and drove about the town and around it, passing many beautiful country seats, and finely arbored woods, to Netley Abbey, a most perfect and extensive Ruin. It is beau tiful. Here yet is the Nave with its two great windows, roofless and ivy clad; a root of a felled tree, by its circles, 300 years old, is in the centre, and younger, though gigantic oaks cluster around; and also the transepts, cloisters, Lady Chapel, Refectory, Kitchen, with its strange old fire places, and over these are still the old stone roofs; and also the great quadrangle; and here was a large pic-nic party in great glee. The country around is beautiful. The ripe grain was waving in the fine breeze luxuriantly about it. Returned to Hotel, dined, and then D. parted from me to take the Rails to London at 6 P. M; upon the Quay, as I went on board the Steamer Grand Turk, for Havre. We had a lovely sail, being a very fine night, passing Ryde and Portsmouth, and arrived at Havre at 6. A. M. 8TH.-Breakfasted at Hotel de l'Europe, and then took at 10 A. M., rails to Rouen, where I stayed till 6 P. M., rambling about the town; admired the fine old Cathedral, the church of St. Ouen., Palais de la Justice; its fine Oak ceiling, and La Place de la Pucelle. Took rails again through a lovely country, in fine cars, and arrived at Paris at 10 1-2 P. M., and drove to Meurices. 9TH.-Made a number of calls in the morning; and the afternoon; evening at Franconis. 10TH.-Morning, went through one Gallery of the Louvre, their immensity and crowd of pictures, prevents one from getting a complete idea; weather excessively warm. 11TH.-Sunday. Spent the morning at Pere la Claise. It is vastly over praised and perhaps not equal even to our Greenwood or Auburn; afternoon made some calls. 12TH.- -Weather do; Spent an hour at the Chamber of Deputies, then went to the beautiful Madeleine, then to Notre Dame, where I could not but admire the new Monument to Bishop de Ligne : the fine paintings of Christ restoring to life, the son of the widow Nain, the entombment of the Virgin, &c; then to the Pantheon, and one cannot help being much more pleased with the beautiful paintings and the carved and winding staircase, around the columns of the choir and the rarely stained windows in the Church of St. Etienne which is near by; Evening at home. 13TH.-Passed the day at Versailles; went all over the Palace, the Jardins, and the Trianons delightedly. : 14TH.-Rev. Dr. H- of New York meeting me at the Hotel this morning, we went out together to the Hotel de Invalides the Tomb of Napoleon &c., was not allowed to be seen being incomplete; then to the Church of St. Sulpice, and then to the delightful Fabrique des Gobelines. In the salle de l'Exposition here, are the fine pictures of the "Destruction of the Mamelukes" infinitely beyond the most exquisite painting-also, "Peter the Great saved by his mother," and the full lengths of the King, Queen, and Royal family with many others; and also the superb Carpets in course of manufacture it is without doubt the most interesting sight in Paris. Dined with Dr. H. at the Trois Freres and afterwards went out to St. Germains, and made a short call on Mr. Robert Walsh |